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Heritage Conservation Areas

^{Bondi Beach, including the iconic Pavilion, is part of a HCA.}

A Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) is a precinct which is protected based on its historical, aesthetic, social and/or technical significance.

Waverley’s HCAs are itemised in the Local Environmental Plan (Schedule  5, part 2). Conservation areas are broken into two categories. Heritage Conservation Areas, tend to be specific areas identified for their historical, architectural, aesthetic or associations such as Blenheim Street, which has the oldest residential cottages in the LGA. Landscape Conservation Areas are generally natural areas of historical significance such as Bondi Beach and Park or streets with old tree canopies.

The existence of a HCA does not mean everything within the precinct is of heritage value or protected to the same extent. Within a HCA, there are heritage ‘items’ which are listed in the LEP (Schedule  5, part 1) and mapped  on Council’s Discover service (Planning Map) and the State Heritage Inventory. For instance, in the Blenheim Street HCA there are six individually listed Heritage Items that have been assessed as historically significant pieces of architecture from 19th century Waverley.

At present, Waverley has 17 HCAs, assessed as having heritage value, which is explained in their Statements of Significance. It’s important that development within a HCA area respects this significance and is consistent with the dominant built character through its form, scale, materials and siting.

1. Blenheim Street Conservation Area
2. Bondi Beach Conservation Area
3. Botany Street Conservation Area
4. Brighton Boulevard Conservation Area (corner of Hastings Parade and Gould Street)
5. Brown Street Conservation Area
6. Busby Parade Conservation Area
7. Charing Cross Conservation Area
8. Collingwood Street Conservation Area
9. Evans Street Conservation Area
10. Grafton Street Conservation Area
11. Imperial Avenue Conservation Area
12. Mill Hill Conservation Area
13. Palmerston Avenue Conservation Area
14. Queens Park Conservation Area
15. Watkins Street Conservation Area
16. Woodstock Street Conservation Area
17. Yenda Avenue Conservation Area

Waverley's HCAs, LCAs and heritage items will be updated when the latest draft Heritage Policy receives Gateway approval from the NSW Department of Planning to exhibit the items for public comment and final gazettal.

Heritage maps are available via the Discover mapping tool (Planning Map) and the Department of Planning. The State Heritage Inventory can be searched for more information on individual heritage items.

Developing a heritage property

• Ordering a Planning Certificate is a definitive way to check if heritage planning controls are applicable to a property.
• Schedule 5 of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) lists all HCA and heritage items.
• Section B8 of the Development Control Plan (DCP) provides greater detail of what is required when developing a heritage-listed  property.
• The Waverley Heritage Policy provides extensive information on  individual HCAs and heritage items.
• For most development works, a Development Application (DA) will be required.
• For minor development works, a Development Application (DA) might not be required; a Heritage Exemption Certificate may be sufficient.
• To prune or remove a tree from a heritage-listed  property and/or a property that is within a HCA, see Tree pruning and removal.